Khwaabon Ka Shehzaada - Sahir Ludhianvi, on his 28th death anniversary Options Rating

[Anupama]

Today is Sahir Ludhianvi's 28th death anniversary. Sahir once said, "Kal Aur Aayenge Naghmon Ki Khilti Kaliyaan Chun-ne Waale, Mujhse Behtar Kehne Waale, Tumse Behtar Sun-ne Waale", but how do we tell Sahir sahab that there hasn't been anyone who has proved to be a better poet than him. Talk about better, there isn't even anyone who has come close to Sahir Ludhianvi after him!
I wish he hadn't left us all so early. His presence and his thoughts would have made the Hindi Music World a better one. I pay tribute to this great poet!



Itni Jaldi Bhi Kya Thi Sahir Tum Ko Jaane Ki
Kuchh Aur Talkhiyaan Dekh Lete Zamaane Ki______Anupama


I'm posting, along with his pictures, some Nazmz that Sahir Ludhianvi's friends wrote after his demise.



This post has been edited by Anupama: Oct 26 2008, 01:00 AM

[abhayp]

Sahir's genius is - for me - summed up in two beautiful Lata songs, one tuned by Madan Mohan and the other by Roshan. The songs are completely different in theme, style, and feel: one slow, romantic, and wistful, the other sharp, poignant, and scalding. The former song is 'chaand maddham hai asamaa.N chup hai' from "Railway Platform"; the latter is "Khudaa-e-baratar terii zamii.n par" from 'Taj Mahal'.

The two songs also share a 'missing link' mystery: the 'Taj Mahal' song is in the film but is not found on any of the audio releases of the film; the 'Railway Platform' song appears in MM-LM compilations but was inexplicably - and cruelly! - left out of the film.

I am first posting the lyrics of "Khudaa-e-baratar". I have the song on tape and had uploaded it on HF long ago. I can upload it again if any members don't have it and want it.

The song is one of the most moving anti-war anthems I have come across in any language (I know - and read poetry in - English, Marathi, Urdu, and Hindi). A lot of the questions he asks are very relevant in today's world. Especially when looking at the world's political overlords, the lament about "unhii.n kaa dil itanaa ta.ng kyu.N hai" hits right home! The play on "zamii.n" in the first line - used first to mean earth and then to mean land - is remarkable. My favourite bits of the song are enclosed within **.

Here is the song, along with a (very) rough translation and the definitions of some of the unusual words.

Khudaa-e-baratar terii zamii.n par zamii.n kii Khaatir ye ja.ng kyo.N hai
har ek fatah-o-zafar ke daaman pe Khuun-e-insaa.N kaa ra.ng kyo.N hai

zamii.n bhii terii hai ham bhii tere, ye milkiyat kaa sawaal kyaa hai
ye qatl-o-Khuu.N kaa rivaaj kyo.N hai, ye rasm-e-ja.ng-o-jadaal kyaa hai
**jinhe.n talab hai jahaan bhar kii unhii.n ka dil itanaa ta.ng kyo.N hai**

Gariib maa.N_o.n shariif bahano.n ko amn-o-izzat kii zi.ndagii de
**jinhe.n ataa kii hai tuune taaqat unhe.n hidaayat kii roshanii de**
saro.n me.n kibr-o-Guruur kyo.N hai, dilo.n ke shiishe pe za.ng kyo.N hai

qazaa ke raste pe jaanewaalo.n ko bach aane kii raah denaa
dilo.n ke gulashan uja.D na jaa_e.n muhabbato.n ko panaah denaa
jahaa.N me.n jashn-e-wafaa ke badale ye jashn-e-tiir-o-tufa.ng kyo.N hai


A rough translation:

Why on your earth, O God, do you allow this warring for the sake of land?
Why does each victory have to be stained by the blood of humans?

This land is yours, and so are we, so whence does the question of property come in?
Why this tradition of killing, of murder, why this custom of battles and wars?
Why do they who wish to own the world have such narrow hearts?

Give the poor mothers and innocent sisters a life of peace and dignity
Those to whom you have given strength, grant them the light of your guidance too
Why are their heads filled with pride and arrogance, why is the mirror of the heart rusted over?

Please allow a path of escape for those who march now to their deaths
Grant your shelter to love, stop the gardens of the heart from being laid waste
Why, instead of celebrating love, do we have this festival of arrows and muskets?

Khudaa-e-baratar: Almighty God
fatah, zafar: Both words mean victory
milkiyat: property, possession;
jadaal: battle
hidaayat: guidance, leading onto the right path
kibr, Guroor: Both words means pride
zang: rust
tafang: musket

Warm regards,
Abhay

This post has been edited by abhayp: Oct 30 2008, 01:04 PM